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I was completely inspired by Danny Boyle’s SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. In many, many ways: Form and content aligned; Not only was it about the world today, it was about film history and where it can go; It had total respect for the audience and desired to both please, inform, and encourage. We all need to reach higher.

The list could go on and on for me, but a key thing was the soundtrack. Man, did it rock. And take me to other places. Immediately it went to the top of my wish list. And now I can listen to it free. Legally, too. That’s something to be thankful for.

Rhapsody has added it to it’s library. Rhapsody allows you to listen to 25 tracks for free a month. So that means you can listen to the Slumdog soundtrack right now. It may be early morning, but we are dancing in our house. This soundtrack is to me what Last King Of Scotland’s soundtrack was previously. Why is it that when Brits go to other countries to make great films, they come back with great soundtracks?

Any way, you can join the party and listen to it by just clicking here. Just then add each song to your player and let your ass do all the rest. Happy Thanksgiving!

We scouted the Buffalo Central Terminal for The Savages. I wish there was a way to set a scene there. Just walking around was great. There’s lot’s of websites with photos of it, but don’t leave Buffalo without getting a tour.

So much to celebrate today. Besides the obvious, I found this. As a Mac user and lover, this also brought me real joy, albeit not quite equal to the election, but still substantial. Now if only I could find a way to expand my day to 48 hours.

Repeated exposure to ambitious films improves the audience’s taste. The longer someone is a member of Netflix, I have been told, the more their taste gravitates to auteurs. Perhaps the revolution has begun and no one has noticed.

I was complaining again. I know what I love. I know what I want to see. Unfortunately it aligns all too rarely with the film industry’s main desires. Along these lines, Bill Horberg and I were emailing back and forth about our pursuit to bring Edwidge Danticat’s The Dew Breaker to the screen. Bill remarked:

Art House has become everyone’s favorite perjorative. And we don’t get to say “probably too mall for me.”

I love that. People generally only want to see ambitious films once they are already made and some critic — if they haven’t all been fired from their jobs — shames them into wanting to see it. It gets worse at the level of gatekeeper and financier: if you quiz them about their favorite film, it generally is something quite beautiful and aiming high. They seem to forget why they got into this business — to make films that are as ambitious as their favorites. The hard economics of this craft leaves everyone shaken and skittish. Yet you can marry great material to reasonable budgets. Unique worlds, original characters, dramatic and truthful situations — these will always be what makes up great films. But money is afraid that all people want to see is escape. They also want to be transported, transformed. They want to appreciate their lives and to aspire to more. They want to recognize themselves in others whom lives are quite different. They want to see their stories told. Ah, well. I am going to keep trying.

Bill is a very witty and passionate guy. It’s quite rare for a producer, if I do say so myself. You should definitely check out his blog.

We will get this movie made. It’s just too good not to. And its coming together nicely. Stay tuned.

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